effective decisions

How do you make a difficult decision? What is your process?

My process for making a difficult decision has improved through the years. Typically in the past, I didn't have much of a process. Or let me rephrase that, to say that I didn't always have an effective process. Or maybe I just wasn't aware of my process?  No, I'm pretty sure that my process has improved with age and experience.

The first stage in most difficult decisions will involve a time of reflection, maybe over a piece of chocolate cake and a cold glass of milk. This stage might be misconstrued as procrastination, but I prefer to call it reflection.

The second stage is the seeking side, where I seek to find out all that I can about my decision. I want to know "both" sides, all the options, all the consequences. Upon being diagnosed with breast cancer March 2011, I sought all the information that I could find in making a treatment decision.

The third stage involves getting input from other trusted sources. This step has evolved through the years. Years ago, I would approach this step like a telemarketer calling everyone that I could think of that might have an opinion on the subject, whether they had any experience or not. Particularly those who I thought would take my side or tell me what I preferred to hear. I've whittled this list down, and my intentions for seeking outside opinions has changed also. I now only contact the sources that I know will tell me the truth or the actual consequences of my choices, whether it is what I want to hear or not. In making my treatment decisions, I was blessed with a large network of women who had had a similar experience, and the assistance they provided was invaluable in helping me to make a decision.

The most important part of this process is prayer. This is where I believe any difficult decision should actually begin. This is where my process has changed tremendously in my growth. At one time in my life, I thought I was in control, and ruled all the decisions. After several years of experiences, I now know who the most important consultant is in my life.  I now have a more effective process of decision making.

Decision of the day

What is something you recently made a decision about?

Today I made a decision about my house.

Or should I say the condition of my house.

My grandsons were here spending the day again with their grannie.

While they played basketball outside, before the rain, I did a little cleaning.

It wouldn't have taken much to finish it off and do the floors.

But I just couldn't get into house cleaning with my guys at home with me.

Besides, on several occasions, I would look up and the

 little one would be eating cookies on the couch.

So, I decided to continue to look at the fireplace ashes, the dust bunnies on the floor, and that annoying feather. It must have come from the pillow on the couch. Boy, it annoys me.

But I've made the decision, I'm not dust mopping the floor until after the boys leave.

So we watched a movie and took a little rest after lunch.

Then our plan was to go the YMCA and play a little basketball.

There my two guys are. They ran and shot baskets for almost an hour.

They were totally red in the face and sweaty after the hour.

Then it was time to go swimming.

See their two little heads bobbing down there at the end of the pool? 

This was about the third or fourth time we've gone to the YMCA since the beginning of this year.

We don't often get the chance to go, so it was a really great day for them and for me.

I enjoyed seeing them having such a great time in a such a wonderful atmosphere.

I love the YMCA.

Meanwhile, my floors can wait until another day!



Uncertainty and the small things

What is something you feel uncertain about right now?

I'm uncertain about the future of television and our youth. I'm rarely home on Monday nights, but since it's spring break, I'm home tonight. I've just witnessed two sit coms that aired between 7 and 8 pm. I am just a little concerned that there were so many references to sex. What do children watch at this hour? I'm so glad my grandchildren weren't here, I would have been so uncomfortable. We wouldn't have watched it, and the only reason it stayed on was that the Bear was asleep and I was too lazy to get up and hunt the remote. I was actually snoozing some too.

There are other situations I'm uncertain about  right now. I'm not sure that I'll get any house cleaning done this week. Though I did get two loads of laundry done today.

The sun rises this morning as I get up to greet the day. My grandsons are spending the day with me. I'm uncertain as to what they will want to do. The light and color is so beautiful this time of day! Magical.

As they played games on the Kindle, I washed the turnips that my father grew in his garden. I'm going to freeze some of them, as I've given away all that I can, but I'm uncertain as to how well they will freeze. I've never frozen turnips before. Aren't they just lovely turnips?!

And then, as if this wasn't quite enough, I made cinnamon rolls. I've been wanting to make them ever since I saw the Pioneer Woman make them on her Food Network show. Everyone raved about them on her website! So, we made them today. My grandsons loved rolling out the dough and getting flour all over our hands, and shirts, and pants, floor, cabinets and refrigerator.

I'm uncertain as if I'll do any cooking tomorrow!
P.S. This is the take home version on the styrofoam plate for my son.

Gardening apron

The fabulous apron my friend Miki made for my birthday last month.

I love the horses and the black rick rack around the edge!

But best of all, is the large area inside the two pockets to carry garden produce!

 Now I won't have to roll my shirt up and use if to carry veggies from the garden to the house, if I forget to carry a basket.

I love to center my text under my photos. Is this wrong? Since this is not poetry?

This is the other apron she made also. It has all the colors of my house.

She is so talented. She also cooks and bakes.

She's often wanted to have a restaurant or write a cook book.

And she can sew too!

I have such talented friends!

I stopped by the race track one morning this week to see the horses gallop.

The Bear stopped and let me take this photo at the gas station.

One of the two new babies born this week. They're growing, running and follwoing the herd already.

The Bear's Prediction for Spring Break

I have a week of spring break ahead of me! Yippee!
I'm always so expectant in the beginning of a week off from work!
The list of spring cleaning chores that I'd like to accomplish is usually more than a mere human can complete.
The Bear told me tonight that he was dreading this week. He expects that I'll be frustrated and exhausted by the end of the week. Exhausted from working too hard, and frustrated because I won't accomplish everything from my astronomical list.
Of course, I'm still in denial, not yet able to admit that he's probably right!
I even went so far as to tell him that he's wrong, "I am going to have fun, and enjoy being at home".
He then asked me to put that in writing.
That won't be necessary, as we'll both remember by the end of the week.
Though I'll act like I don't remember what he's talking about!
We'll see how the week goes. I'll keep you posted!

doubts

Discuss the word doubt.
This is another word that I'd like to add to the archaic list from yesterday's writing prompts.
Not that it is archaic, but a word with a negative connotation.
I can definitely add it to a list of words that I doubt I'll frequently use much anymore.
Now I think I'll see how often I can use the word.
Doubt is a word I associate with little faith or trust.
There were times in my life when my thoughts were consumed with doubt and fear.
Situations when I was trying to achieve an outcome of my own, doubtful of trusting anyone else.

I'm really doubtful that I can share much more tonight. I'm over extended, and it's "past my bedtime".
Let's put our fears and doubts away for the night!

Pencils, guaranteed to change your mood

Would you rather stay or go?

I looked at the writing prompt earlier today. I like to have a little time to contemplate the topic.
Is this legal? Does anyone else do this also?
Immediately, I considered the literal interpretation in connection with my physical location.
I'll not say what I thought at that time.
It is usually a good thing when I don't act on my first thoughts. Or write about them either.

So I'm visiting with students, and handing out pencils.
Not just any ordinary pencils.
These are heat sensitive pencils, or as I refer to them, mood pencils.
They are actually pretty interesting pencils. When you hold them, they change colors.
Two purple pencils, see the bright pink on the one that I was holding?
Might help if I had taken a little closer shot, huh?

The pencils were quite a hit with this crowd. As I was visiting with a group of girls, and they were musing over the mood pencils, I over heard one girl ask another if it would change your mood.

I told her that of course, a pencil could change your mood!

A pencil and paper, if used, are capable of changing your mood, your attitude and your general well being. From my experience, anytime that I journal about my feelings or situations, I come away with a changed perspective. I usually write until I have the answers I need.

This is when I correlated the topic of "stay or go" with the pencils and the blog.
I think I'll stay.
I'm halfway through my third month of blogging. I appreciate the daily discipline. I feel like my writing is improving somewhat. I like some of the things I've written. I enjoy reading others' blogs and making new friends.